Florida Fellowship Church Burns by Tommy Deal, Associate Coordinator CBF of Florida

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On behalf of CBF of Florida, Associate Coordinator Tommy Deal, traveled to Jacksonville, Florida Monday December 24th to meet with Pastor Kyle Reese of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church and to assess any needs the CBF family can meet in the aftermath of an early morning fire Sunday, December 23rd.  The two alarm fire completely destroyed the church sanctuary.  Nearby buildings which housed the Church Offices and the Preschool ministry received water and smoke damage.

Monday morning church members were busy packing up books and resources in the Church Media Center and attempting to relocate the offices in another building.  Sunday morning as worshippers arrived to find the damage, they set up the gym for the 11:00 worship the Sunday before Christmas.

Pastor Reese felt that all present needs are being met by church members pitching in to assist in the temporary set ups.  Nothing more permanent can be done until fire investigators can get in and determine the fire’s cause.  At that time, final demolition will need to be done by trained contractors and the insurance company.

Reese asked that his and the church’s sincere appreciation to every call and email that has been sent be given.  Although unable to respond to each email or to answer every call, they are making note of each and everyone and have felt each prayer during this trying time.  Reese was quoted in the Jacksonville, The Florida Timse-Union saying, “I think the folks will rise up and something good will come out of this.”

CBF of Florida has sent a set of offering plates to Hendricks Avenue to replace ones lost in the fire.  This set of offering plates had been donated to CBF of Florida by Indigo Community Church, Daytona Beach when it disbanded.

Deal and Reese discussed the availability of CBF of Florida’s DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) if necessary.  However, it has been determined at the current time, it will not be needed.

Tommy Deal, Associate Coordinator for CBF of Florida and Pastor Kyle Reese survey the destroyed sanctuary of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church

Other photos may be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/1tdeal1/HendricksAve